Cultivation of GM plants: Increase worldwide, no great change in Europe

In 1996, the first genetically modified seeds were planted in the United States for commercial use. In the meanwhile, genetically modified crops were grown on 174 million hectares worldwide.

Tendency increasing further: GM plants on 174 million hectares worldwide in 2013
The cultivation of genetically modified plants worldwide also increased in 2013. In comparison to 2012,
field area increased by five million hectares to 174 million. In the case of soybean, 79 percent of world production is achieved with GM soy and this figure is
32 percent in the case of maize.

For years Spain has been the only EU country in
which genetically modified crops are commercially grown on any sizeable scale.
Spanish farmers first began cultivating insect-resistant Bt maize in 1998. Since
then, Bt maize has become firmly established in almost all regions with high
corn borer infestation levels.

Soy, maize, cotton and rapeseed: The big four Soy, maize, cotton, and rapeseed account for almost all commercial GMO production. GM plants are grown mainly in North and South America, but increasingly also in India, China and South Africa.

Cultivation in the USA in 2013: The trend for genetically modified plants remains steadyIn the USA the farmers are still committed to green gene technology. For soy and sugarbeet, in 2013 genetically modified varieties represented over 90% of the total; for maize and cotton it was exactly 90%. Overall, the acreage under GM crop plants increased by 1 million to 70 million hectares.

Numerous studies have addressed the potential impacts of genetically modified (GM) plants. Yet the existing evidence on the effects of GM plants is often contradictory and the quality of scientific research varies widely.

Therefore, the GRACE project will establish new tools for assessing the quality of existing studies and
will conduct comprehensive reviews to identify health, environmental and
socio-economic impacts of GM plants.